Method and device for impregnating an elongate element

Abstract

The invention provides a method and device for impregnating at least one elongate element by transferring a thermostabilizable substance from a supply station by means of a supply means, the element being moved in front of the transfer means which includes a mobile surface passing in front of the station then in front of the element, the substance being deposited on the surface in said station and being transferred therefrom at least partially onto the element in a zone close thereto, wherein the transfer means includes thermoregulation means such as heating means, adapted so that the temperature at the surface in the impregnation zone is substantially higher than that of the substance in said supply station.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device for impregnating at least one elongate element by transferring a thermostabilizable substance from a station supplying the substance to said element by a transfer means, which comprises means for moving said element longitudinally in front of said transfer means, said transfer means including a mobile surface passing through said station and then in front of said element, means for depositing said substance on said surface at the level of said station while being transferred at least partially onto said at least one element in an impregnation zone in the vicinity of said element, said transfer means comprising first thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said surface at the level of the impregnation zone to be substantially higher than that of the substance retained in said supply station; and said supply station comprising second thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said substance in said station to be substantially less than the temperature of the surface at the level of the impregnation zone; and a squeegee means adapted for removing from said surface the substance not transferred by said element, said squeegee means being situated upstream of said supply station. 
     
     
       2. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a dosing element placed downstream of said supply station, said dosing element being adapted so as to produce, on the surface, a layer of substance which is uniform and adjusted in thickness. 
     
     
       3. A device for impregnating at least one elongate element by transferring a thermostabilizable substance from a station supplying the substance to said element by a transfer means, which comprises means for moving said element longitudinally in front of said transfer means, said transfer means including a mobile surface passing through said station and then in front of said element, means for depositing said substance on said mobile surface at the level of said station while being transferred at least partially onto said at least one element in an impregnation zone in the vicinity of said element, said transfer means comprising first thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said surface at the level of the impregnation zone to be substantially higher than that of the substance retained in said supply station; and said supply station comprising second thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said substance in said station to be substantially less than the temperature of the surface at the level of the impregnation zone; and means for separating said elongate element from said transfer means and said transfer means including safety drive means adapted for moving said transfer means once the separation means have been brought into action. 
     
     
       4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said thermostabilizable substance is a thermosetting resin. 
     
     
       5. A device for impregnating at least one elongate element by transferring a thermostabilizable substance from a station supplying the substance to said element by a transfer means, which comprises means for moving said element longitudinally in front of said transfer means, said transfer means including a mobile surface passing through said station and then in front of said element, means for depositing said substance on said mobile surface at the level of said station while being transferred at least partially onto said at least one element in an impregnation zone in the vicinity of said element, said transfer means comprising first thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said surface at the level of the impregnation zone to be substantially higher than that of the substance retained in said supply station; and said supply station comprising second thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said substance in said station to be substantially less than the temperature of the surface at the level of the impregnation zone; said supply station comprising a tank in which said substance is situated and said transfer means being arranged to move said mobile surface into said tank. 
     
     
       6. A device for impregnating at least one elongate element by transferring a thermostabilizable substance from a station supplying the substance to said element by a transfer means, which comprises means for moving said element longitudinally in front of said transfer means, said transfer means including a mobile surface passing through said station and then in front of said element, means for depositing said substance on said mobile surface at the level of said station while being transferred at least partially onto said at least one element in an impregnation zone in the vicinity of said element, said transfer means comprising first thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said surface at the level of the impregnation zone to be substantially higher than that of the substance retained in said supply station; and said supply station comprising second thermoregulation means for controlling the temperature of said substance in said station to be substantially less than the temperature of the surface at the level of the impregnation zone; said supply station comprising a tank in which said substance is contained, and a circulating member adapted for picking up said substance situated in said tank, conveying the substance towards said transfer means and coating the transfer means therewith. 
     
     
       7. The device as claimed in claim 1, including spacing means adapted for spacing said transfer means away from said supply station.